Chanters & Choir

CHANTERS:

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High.

[Psalm 92:1]

CHOIR:

Choir Director: Kosta Mantzefleris

New Members Welcome

The Prophet Elias Church choir warmly welcomes all who love music and who want to be part of a friendly music community. To join the choir, email the choir director Kostantinos Matzafleris at mkostantinos@yahoo.com or Gina Alpous at galpous@gmail.com. Choir membership is free. Your only obligation is to attend the weekly rehearsals held Tuesday nights from 7:00pm – 9:00pm and to attend Sunday Liturgy every other Sunday from September to June. We look forward to having you join our choir family.

History of the Choir

The Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church Choir was formed in 2003 under the directorship of Deirdre Vlahiotis, (until 2005) and assisted by David Stanton. The choir program was conceived and initiated by Father Peter Mentis, who led the church family between 1992 and 2014. Consisting of community volunteers, the choir sings sacred hymns of the Greek Orthodox Church from The Devine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom Hymnal. Hannah Burge directed the choir between 2005-2007 and 2012-2015. Under her guidance the choir first performed the Divine Liturgy in completion, a Capella. Jennifer Mantzios led the choir from, 2007-2012 and introduced folk material, concert arrangements and soloists. Kosta Mantzefleris’ choir directorship began in 2016. His goal is to expand the choir’s repertoire of traditional, folk and modern Greek songs.

Practices are held every Tuesday from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

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The choir at Prophet Elias has graced us with their God-given talent. Their gift of God’s glory is now available through this recording for all to enjoy. May they continue to express His glory for many more years. – Father Theologos Drakos

The Choir of Prophet Elias Church in Mississauga Ontario

For many years some Greek composers who lived and studied music professionally in American universities, rearranged the monophonic Byzantine Chants into a four part choral harmony for Soprano, Tenor, Alto and Bass, and transcribed Byzantine writing to modern western five line notation. The sound of the mainly monophonic sound became richer with the combination of choir and chanters.

The Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church choir of Mississauga which was formed in 2003, is one of the few polyphonic choirs in Toronto. In March 2016, it underwent a change in leadership with the arrival of a new director, Kostantino Matzafleris, piano teacher/performer and composer.

This year the choir of Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church released its first CD called, Imnos: Sacred Hymns of Faith from the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom Hymnal. The Imnos CD project was the realization of a vision and a labour of love by the choir’s previous director, Mrs. Hannah Burge Luviano, and the volunteering choir members. Through this amazing achievement, they demonstrated their true passion and dedication.

Under the direction of Kosta Matzafleris, the choir will now focus on expanding its repertoire with music from the great Greek composers and lyricists such as: Hadjidakis, Theodorakis, Gatsos, as well as songs from the classic Greek cinema, traditional music & songs from Mikra Asia-Smirni, and much more. The objective of these activities is to deliver to the community a rich Greek musical culture that exalts the spirit, the images and colours of Greece.

With beautiful music, our Choir celebrates the presence of God during the Divine Liturgy. In both Greek and English, using familiar Byzantine melodies in four-part harmony, our Choir participates in the Divine Liturgy every second Sunday during the school year.